Top comb



p 10, 1929- D. BARKER 1,727,803

TOP COMB Filed May 12, 1928 10 T llnmm INVEN OR W A RNEY Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES DYSON BARKER, OF WHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO VTHITIN MACHINE WORKS, OF WHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPQRATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Application filed May 12,

The object is to improve the efficiency of cotton combers and the invention relates more particularly to the top-comb mounting of l-Ieilman-type combers, and consists in an improved organization of the top-comb system so that the comb approaches the detaching rolls with the nippers, but holds a fixed or relatively fixed position adjacent and close to the detaching rolls for a certain period or while the nippers reverse their movement, being established in this position by the yielding engagement of the comb with a suitable abutment formed by the detaching rolls themselves or parts directly related thereto or at approximately the same level as hereinbelow made apparent. I

The invention is shown in its preferred form and by way of exemplification of its principle in the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section through one of the heads of a conventional Nasmith combing machine having the invention applied, p I

Fig. 2 a similar viewwith the parts ina different position, I I

Figs. 3 and 4: side and front views respectively of the top comb mounting and Fig. 5 a detail of thehinge-joint thereof. The main comb shaft is marked 1, the comb cylinder 2, and the swinging nipper support 3, the latter being pivoted at f and carrying the nippers which comprise the cushion plate 5 and nipper knife. 6. The nipper support is oscillated by a link connection 7 with a rock shaft 8 so that the nippers 5 and 6 are swung from a rearward position in which they hold the tuft on the half-lap of the comb cylinder, the position of Fig. 1, to a forward position in which they present the tuft to the detaching rolls as shown in Fig. 2. The nipper knife is closed by a spring, not shown, and is opened as the nippers make their forward stroke, by the engagement of a cam bowl 9 on the rear end of the nipper knife lever r with a fixed but adjustable track 10. It will of .course be understood that, although only one nipper lever appears in the drawing, there are in fact two of them, one at each end of the nipper knife, and that the same is true of other actuating and supporting mem- TOP COMB;

1928. Serial N0. 277,111.'

bers, each combing head being symmetrical in design as usual. s

During the forward stroke of the nipper support, the lap feed roll, shown in dotted lines, advances the lap through the open nippers so that its forward end'is presented to the detaching rolls which latter. have the usual forward and back rotation to produce the overlap and piecing. The top detaching roll 11 receives a further or traverse motion back and forth over the lower detaching roll 12, this motion being imparted to it by a stirrup 13, one at each end, and a connecting rod 14 actuated by'another rock shaft in the rear of the machine. Figs. 1 and 2 show the extreme positions of the top rollfrom which it will'be seen that the stirrup moves the top roll forwardly while the nippers are making their forward stroke andvice versa.

The top comb 15 is carried by the ends of two top comb arms 16 which are pivoted on rearward extensions 17015 the nipper support 3 so that these arms and the top comb thereon are thus carried back and forth with the nippers. In'the rearmost position they are supported by rollers 18resting or rolling on the fixed track members 19 which are so placed as to hold the top comb relatively elevated in respect to the cushion plate. As the nippers swing forwardtherollers18 leave the track members 19 and the top comb arms then become supported by their .set screws 20 resting upon the top surfaces of the nipper sup port as shown in Fig. 2, which screws 20 thus control the depth of penetration of the top comb into the sliver as customary.

Accordingtothe preferred form of the invention the top comb proper 15 is hingedto the front ends of the top comb arms, for which purpose they are rigidly connected and braced by a crossrod 21 secured to them by means of end screws 22 which latter occupy slots in the ends of the arms so that the rod is adjustable forward and back with relation to the latter. The top comb is hinged on this so that it urges the lower end of the comb forwardly. A stop screw 26 in this'flange, rearward of the axis, forms the stop to limit the action of the spring. The screw 27 adjusts the tension of the spring.

The top comb carries or is further provided with two contact surfaces, or fingers 28, one at each end and each located thereon in position near the level of the'top comb needles to encounter the journal sleeve 29 of the gudgeon of the top detaching roll 11. when the nipper support approaches its forward limit. Only one of these fingers or bumpers is shown in Fig. 4 andone maybe sufficient,

but it is preferred to arrange them as stated,

one at each endof the top comb and so that each engages the proximate gudgeon sleeve of the detaching roll or some equivalent part of the machine.

The action is as follows: As the nippers and top comb structure swing from their rearward position, Fig. 1,

to the detachin aosition of Fi 2 the to comb rollers first run off the comb tracks 19 causing the top comb to drop, penetrating the tuft, in which lowered position it continues forward until its bumper surface or he bumper finger 28 strikes the gudgeon sleeve 29, at which point the forward movement of the top comb is checked or arrested while the nippers may continue on to the end of their normal stroke, the meantime compressing spring 25. The position of the top comb while its bum er en a es the 'ournal sleeve b 23 29, is very close to the top detaching roll, say 1/32 inch and it remains accurately in this position preserving a constant relation to said roll during the'reversal period of the nippers, which period will be understood to be'variable accordingto the timing 'of the comber and the setting of the top comb, and the accuracy of the position is derived from the stopping of the top comb at a point thereon which is low and substantially level with its row of comb needles. The top comb reaches the detaching roll before the *nippers have ceased moving forward and may reach .saidroll while the latter is moving forward, and is thus estabthe same or similar effect can obviouslybe produced by using any part of the detaching mechanism or any part situated at about the levelof the comb needles as the comb stopping member.

Having described my invention, the following is claimed:

1. In a Heilman-type comber, the combination with the comb cylinder and detaching rolls, of a top comb support movable toward and from said rolls, a top comb having a spring-yielding connection with said support and an abutment located at substantially the level of the top comb needles for arrestingthe forward movement of said top comb.

2. In a Heihnan-type comber, the combi-.

nation of the detaching mechanism, a top comb movable toward andfrom the same, a contact surface on said top comb and an abutment therefor onsaid mechanism adapted to arrest the forward movementof said comb.

3. In a. I-Ieilman-type comber, the combination-of the detaching mechanism, a nipper support moving toward and from the same, a pair of top comb armshinged to said nipper support to rise and fall independently of the upper'nipper jaw thereon, a top comb resiliently connected to said arms, and an abutment adapted to arrest the forward move- "ment of the top comb.

toward and from the nippers, and a resiliently held top comb movable toward and from said rolls, and adapted to be arrested by said top roll or a part moving therewith to limit the stroke of the comb.

6. In a comber, the combination of a swing in nipper support, a top detaching roll havmg a traverse movement toward and from the nippers, a spring-supported top comb carried on a forward part of the nipper support and means on said comb adapted to encoun- =t-er s'aid'traversing top roll to limit the combs forward stroke.

7. In a Hellman-type comber, the combination of atop comb support movable toward and from the detaching rolls and a finger on said top comb adapted to encounter a part adjacent the end of the top detaching roll to limit the forward stroke of the comb.

8. Ina IIeilman-type comber,the combination of the comb cylinder and moving nipper support, a top comb support hinged to said support in rear of the cylinder, a top comb resiliently carried on the forward end of said top comb support above said cylinder and, an abutment adapted to arrest the forward movement of said top comb.

9. Ina Heilman-type comber, the combination of top comb arms, a cross-rod rigidly attached thereto, a top comb hinged on said rod and normally free to turn thereon and a spring acting on said comb to urge its lower end forwardly.

10. In a Heilman-type comber, the combination with the detaching rolls of a nipper support mounted for forward movement tospecification.

DYSON BARKER. 

